Course Contents

I. Introduction II. Key concepts in climatology and meteorology III. Structure and composition of atmosphere IV. Elements and factors of climate V. Insolation, terrestrial heat budget VI. Temperature distribution VII. Atmospheric Humidity and its types. Condensation and their forms, precipitation, formation and their types VIII. Atmospheric pressure and global pressure belts IX. Atmospheric circulation; air stability and in-stability, storms; cyclones (hurricane, typhoons) and tornadoes X. Air masses and fronts XI. Classification of climates i. A critical study of the Koppen, Miller and Thornthwaite classifications of major climates XII. Climatic regions of Pakistan and their characteristic features and geographical distribution, XIII. Climatic change and variability i. Natural and anthropogenic; greenhouse gasses; global warming; acid rain; ozone layer depletion; El-Nino and La-Nina, causes, impact and trends ii. climatic regions of Pakistan and their characteristics XIV. Climatic data source, collection, presentation and analysis. Problems associated with data quality (spatial and temporal)

Course Synopsis

This course has been designed to introduce climatic elements, spatial and temporal variations in weather and climate. To familiarise students with the major climatic regions of the world and Pakistan.

Course Learning Outcomes

Student’s learning outcome By the end of this course, the student will: • explain the key climatic elements and their decomposition into zonal, meridional, standing and transient circulations; • explain the difference between weather and climate and the key issues in climatology and role of climatology in national development • understand the mean global atmospheric circulations as represented by the wind, temperature, pressure, humidity, and understand the key features of both the high and low latitude atmospheres • Differentiate between storms; cyclones (hurricane, typhoons) and tornadoes • World’s major climatic region by Koppen, Miller and Thornthwaite and climate distribution classifications of major climates